Travel: National Whitewater Center an authentic outdoor adventure

Steve Stephens More Content Now

Monday

Jun 11, 2018 at 10:36 AMJun 11, 2018 at 10:36 AM

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Imagine an amusement park where all the “rides” are authentic outdoor adventures.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte is such a place — where outdoor-loving visitors go to raft challenging rapids, climb vertical walls, bike or hike lovely wooded trails or zip-line through a verdant riparian canopy along the Catawba River.

The heart of the center is the world’s largest man-made whitewater “river.”

I couldn’t imagine how an artificial waterway could provide the kind of rafting thrills of natural whitewater rivers. After a 90-minute water- and adrenaline-soaked rafting trip, though, I was a believer.

The waterway contains 12 million gallons of water coursing through Class II to IV rapids on two separate runs, each with a 21-foot total drop, and is challenging enough to be a U.S. Olympic training center for whitewater slalom-kayak racing.

After a short briefing and safety session, my fellow rafters and I donned our gear and loaded up in the raft with our experienced guide. We quickly reached our first rapids as our guide shouted paddling instructions and steered us through the cataracts.

Each set of rapids approached, well, rapidly, without the long stretches of flat water found on some whitewater rivers. At a few spots we “surfed,” maneuvering into position to catch the force of the surging water while staying relatively motionless (and getting really, really wet).

We caught our breath at the end of each run while we — and our raft — were being lifted up back to the top of the course via conveyor belt to start again. Next to the conveyor, water gushed from the course’s massive recirculating pumps, as it, too, prepared for another run.

The experience might not have been the same as that found on the legendary whitewater of West Virginia’s Gauley River. But it was still a blast — and another adventure awaited just a few steps away.

The Whitewater Center’s zip-line course soars through the trees along the scenic Catawba River. As my tour took flight beneath high-strung cables from platform to platform through the canopy, mountain bikers zipped (and slipped) along muddy trails far beneath us. I think we had the better ride, and certainly the better view.

Although the heights were sometimes dizzying, our guides kept us safe and secure — and entertained with corny jokes and zip-line camaraderie.

Our tour included a couple of rope walks. Although we were firmly latched onto an overhead safety line, I found the springy, swaying walks to be far more spine-tingling, if not as exhilarating, as the flights through the air along the zip lines.

Other adventures available at the Whitewater Center include flat-water kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding on the scenic Catawba River; and wall-climbing for all skill levels at one of the largest climbing-wall facilities in the southern United States.

More than 25 miles of mountain-bike trails — rated “beginner,” “intermediate” or “advanced” a la ski trails — are open to guests. Bike and helmet rentals are included in the price of a day pass. (Visitors who take their bikes can use the trails free.)

Whitewater kayaking and other lessons and certifications are also available.

Most guests buy a day pass, giving them access to many of the center activities, including one adventure raft ride per admission. Other activities are priced singly. Combination packages such as a zip-line tour with a rafting trip (the option I chose) are also available.The Whitewater Center is also a blast for folks just looking for a great place to relax and unwind, especially on days when the center hosts a concert, festival, fireworks or other entertainment.

The Whitewater Center’s River’s Edge restaurant and Pump House Biergarten offer food, drink and great views of the whitewater course. Craft beers are also available at several other sites around the center.

Admission to the grounds is free, and many people go to enjoy the atmosphere, watch the activities and catch some entertainment or a meal.

Be warned, though: When you see all the outdoor action around you, you’ll probably be seized by the urge to paddle, zip, bike or climb.— Steve Stephens can be reached at sstephens@dispatch.com or on Twitter @SteveStephens.

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